John Fox Provides Precedent for Possible Nick Sirianni Dismissal

The future of Nick Sirianni as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles has dominated the conversation following the 2023 season. Will he return after the monumental collapse?

The successful resume of a head coach with a 34-17 regular-season record, three playoff appearances in three seasons, and one Super Bowl appearance doesn’t create an obvious need for a change. However, if Jeffrey Lurie pulls the plug, it wouldn’t be unprecedented.

Former NFL head coach John Fox reached the Super Bowl with a surprise victory in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in his second season with Carolina Panthers.

He achieved similar success with the Denver Broncos in his second stop as a head coach. Tim Tebow reached stardom in Fox’s first season in 2011. Although the 8-8 Broncos never looked like a serious championship contender, Fox deserved credit for maximizing talent and winning a playoff game with a quarterback who wasn’t an effective passer at the NFL level.

The addition of Peyton Manning helped the Broncos step into the top tier of the NFL. They posted 13-3 records in consecutive seasons. The 2013 Broncos finished with the highest points per game average in the Super Bowl era at 37.9. They led the league with +207 point differential. However, they fell to the Seattle Seahawks in a disappointing 43-8 blowout in Super Bowl XLVIII.

Fox also led the Broncos to a 12-4 record and a first-round bye in 2014. They suffered a 24-13 loss against the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC Divisional Round. It was the second time in three seasons they had opened up the postseason with a home loss.

A 46-18 record, a Super Bowl appearance, and four AFC West titles in four seasons in Dever didn’t save his job. Fox and John Elway sat down for a lengthy meeting after the upset loss. They mutually decided to part ways.

According to the Denver Post, Fox wasn't satisfied with his lack of authority in draft and roster decisions. Disagreements about the offensive strategy late in 2014 season also contributed to the decision. Gary Kubiak took over and led the Broncos to a victory in Super Bowl L after the following season.

The Eagles have followed a similar track under Nick Sirianni since 2021 as the Broncos did under John Fox. Sirianni led Philadelphia to a 9-8 record and a playoff appearance in his first season. The Eagles relied heavily on the running game with a formula that didn’t look sustainable for long-term contention.

The progress was comparable to the Tim Tebow miracle season. Both seasons were good steps forward under new head coaches for developing teams that still had a lot of room for roster upgrades and a new level of success.

Nick Sirianni then utilized the advantage of major personnel upgrades in 2022 to help the Eagles to an appearance in the Super Bowl, just like John Fox did with Peyton Manning in 2012 and 2013. The Eagles plowed through their competition with dominance, albeit to a lesser extent than the 2013 Broncos.

Sirianni’s third season in Philadelphia aligns reasonably with Fox’s fourth season in Denver. The Eagles finished 11-6 in 2023. The record doesn’t tell the whole story of how the team performed relative to expectations, and it doesn’t necessarily indicate that the best head coach to lead them to future success is in charge.

NFL organizations make decisions based on what they think will help their teams moving forward. Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman have moved on from Andy Reid and Doug Pederson without supreme loyalty based solely on the previous accomplishments of the respective head coaches.

Why would they think any differently in the case of Nick Sirianni?

The Philadelphia Eagles suffered their worst loss of their NFL season in Week 17 against the Arizona Cardinals. A tight victory over the New York Giants didn't inspire too much hope, and the team responded with the worst loss of the Nick Sirianni era. The Eagles hope to have key starters like Zach Cunningham back on the field in Week 18 for the final game of the regular season.

It wasn't pretty at Lincoln Financial Field on New Year's Eve. The Eagles are reeling with four losses in five games. The optimism of a 10-1 team has disappeared quickly.

Nobody can confidently say the Eagles have any momentum heading into the playoffs. They have struggled with the same weaknesses throughout the 2023 season, and their recent opponents have exposed their flaws brutally.

A.J. Brown spoke confidently about the direction of the team on Wednesday. He insisted that the team still believes in Sirianni, the rest of the coaching staff, and each other. However, his words carry no weight until the fans see the Eagles improve their performance on the field.

Darius Slay will likely miss his fourth consecutive game after an arthroscopic knee surgery. Kelee Ringo was the primary fill-in on the outside for the injured Pro Bowl cornerback. Zach Cunningham was a full participant in Thursday's practice. He should provide relief to a struggling defense that desperately needs it.

DeVonta Smith is nursing an ankle injury suffered in the fourth quarter against the Cardinals. The Eagles need him for a potential playoff run, and he'll likely sit out Sunday.

Nick Sirianni will weigh the option of resting his starters against the Giants. The Dallas Cowboys can clinch the NFC East with a victory against the Washington Commanders. There's a good chance the Eagles will not face any seeding consequences with a loss.

Quarterback, #1
Oklahoma University/University of Alabama
4th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (53rd overall) in 2020

Running Back, #0
University of Georgia
4th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Detroit Lions (April 2023)

Wide Receiver, #11
Ole Miss
5th NFL season- Acquired in a trade from Tennessee Titans (April 2022)

Wide Receiver, #80
University of Alabama
13th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (October 2023)

Wide Receiver, #13
University of Virginia
5th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (April 2023)

Tight End, #88
South Dakota St.
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (48th overall) in 2018

Left Tackle, #68
Jeff Stoutland University
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 7th Round (233rd overall) in 2018

Left Guard, #69
University of Alabama
3rd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (37th overall) in 2021

Center, #62
University of Cincinnati
13th NFL Season- Drafted in 6th Round (191st overall) in 2011

Right Guard, #51
University of Nebraska
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 2nd Round (51st overall) in 2022

Left Tackle, #69
Oklahoma University
11th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (4th overall) in 2013

Defensive End, #94
Florida State
6th NFL Season- Drafted in 4th Round (130th overall) in 2018

Defensive Tackle, #91
Mississippi State
12th NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (12th overall) in 2012

Defensive Tackle, #90
University of Georgia
2nd NFL Season- Drafted in 1st Round (13th overall) in 2022

Edge Rusher/Linebacker, #7
Temple University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (March 2022)

Linebacker, #52
Vanderbilt University
7th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (August 2023)

Linebacker, #50
South Carolina St.
6th NFL Season, Signed in Free Agency (December 2023)

Cornerback, #22
University of Georgia
1st NFL Season, Drafted in 4th Round (105th Overall) in 2023

Cornerback, #24
University of Arkansas/Samford University
8th NFL Season- Signed in Free Agency (May 2022)

Cornerback, #29
University of Pittsburgh
Drafted in 4th Round (125th overall) in 2018

Safety, #31
Middle Tennessee State
8th NFL Season, Acquired in trade from Tennessee Titans (October 2023)

Safety, #32
Middle Tennessee State
2nd NFL Season- Signed as Undrafted Free Agent (May 2022)